Spinning top slidable off a rod



July 4, 1967 c. E. BLANTON, JR

SPINNING TOP SLIDABLE OFF A ROD Filed April 25, 1964 INVENTOR UnitedStates Patent 3,328,909 SPINNING TOP SLIDABLE OFF A ROD Colecta E.Blanton, Jr., 6344 Eberhart Ave., Chicago, II]. 60637 Filed Apr.23,1964, Ser. No. 362,079 2 Claims. (Cl. 4668) My invention relates totoys employing a twisted wire rod along which a top is slidable andthreaded, so that the top is in rotation as it slides along the rod andspins when it leaves the same and lands on a floor or other supportingsurface. While various forms of such a toy have been patented, thepresent invention is more particularly an improvement on the deviceshown in the patent to C. E. Coe, No. 1,003,985.

In a device of the type considered, the top must be bored axially forthe passage of the rod, yet carry means forming a spinning pointsuitable for the continued rotation of the top when it meets the surfaceon which it is dropped. In the patent referred to an attachment isprovided for the under side of the top projecting a spinning point indownward direction. Since such point is mostly alongside the rod, asseen in FIG. 2 of the patent, I have foundby constructing the Coedevice-that an off-center influence is set up during the spinning of thetop, which makes it vibrate as it spins and stop sooner than a top whichis axially balanced.

In view of the above condition, it is one object of the presentinvention to construct the top with means positioned to clear thetwisted rod while the top slides along the same, and form a centeredspinning point for the top when it leaves the rod.

A further object is to design the aforesaid means to assume itsrod-clearing position automatically and build up pressure by centrifugalforce to form and maintain the spinning point in operative position aslong as the top is in spinning motion.

Another object is to employ a recessed formation in the body of the topfor accommodating the major portion of the spinning point mechanism, andkeep the latter concealed from view and protected against tampering orimpact by external objects.

An additional object is to incorporate simple means for maintaining thespinning point in a compact and centered position.

An important object is to design a spinning point mechanism which is offew parts and does not detract from the appearance of the top.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of the spinning top toy, with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a section on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the top alone, from the left-hand side of FIG. 1;and

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the top alone in the spinning position.

Referring specifically to the drawing, denotes the twisted wire rod,which is designed to be held in a vertical or slanted position when thetoy is used. The upper end of the rod is formed into a looped handle 10afor the support of the rod. The latter receives first a sleeve 12, andthen the top 13, these parts being made of wood or similar material andaxially bored as indicated at 12a and 13a for slidable movement alongthe rod. As in the patented device, the sleeve 12 is used as a pusher toadvance the top along the rod and off the free end thereof. The uppersurface of the present top receives a plate 15 made with an elongatedcenter slot 15a for threading the top on the rod; and the plate has sidespurs 15b driven into the stock of the top for retaining the plate toice the same. It is now apparent that the top goes into rotation duringits descent along the rod; and the pusher sleeve 12 is made with a head12b at the bottom to guard the hand from pressing against the top anddeterring its rotation; and the head is convex underneath, as indicatedat 120, in order to present a minimum surface for the same reason.

For the purpose of the invention the top is made with a pair of narrowcavities 13b from opposite sides and through the bottom. These cavitiesaccommodate a pair of flat metallic levers 20, these being freelymounted on transverse pivot p.ns 22 driven through the top andterminating flush with its outer surface, as suggested in FIG. 3. Thepivot pins 22 are located in the lower parts of the levers and so spacedthat the insertion of the rod through the center bore 13a aligns thelevers into positions closely adjoining the rod, as seen in FIG. 1.Below the pivot pins the levers are tapered to form rounded ends 20a,the taper being with a curvature 20b on the outside and a bevel 200 onthe inside.

When the top is advanced toward the lower or free end of the rod, therotation of the top induces a spreading influence on the levers bycentrifugal force. Thus, when the top slides off the rod the leversbecome free to spread to the position shown in FIG. 4 determined by themeeting of the bevels 20c at the bottom. The ends 20a are now joined toform a spinning point for the continued rotation of the top when itmeets a floor or other'supporting surface.

Since the descending angle of the top may cause one lever to swing outtoo far and prejudice the centering of the spinning point, cross-pins 24are carried by the levers near the bottom. The cross pins are spacedfrom the lower end surface of the top while the levers are in the closedposition indicted in FIG. 1; and the crosspins serve as stop against thelower end surface of the top as shown in FIG. 4, when the levers swingout and their bevels 200 meet as shown, centering the spinning point.

While the recessed construction of the top virtually divides it into twohalves, it is noted that these are connected at the top by a taperedintegral spacer 13c; and

they are connected near the bottom by the pivot pins 22,.

these being driven tightly through the top while the levers arepositioned to let the pivot pins pass through their perforations.

It will now be apparent that no part of the top mechanism projects intothe center bore to aifect the sliding progress of the top along thetwisted rod, or to assume an off-center position unbalancing the top.When the top leaves the rod, the centrifugal action of the levers 20causes them to meet on the axis of the top in equalized relation,placing the combined spinning point in the center of the top. The latterwill thus spin without vibration or any undue retarding influence on itsvelocity. Further, the mechanism of the levers 20 is almost entirelyconcealed and protected, and requires no handling or other attention.Finally, the top is made in one piece and reinforced to hold togetheragainst the strains and impacts of use.

While I have described the invention along specific lines, various minorchanges or modifications may be made therein without departing from itsprinciple, and I reserve the right to employ all such changes as fallwithin the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a top slidable along. a rod, and means inducingthe top to rotate while on the rod and by momentum beyond one endthereof; of companion levers in opposite sides of the top and pivoted 34 ransversely in the leading end thereof to present outer ReferencesCited iortions with pointed ends and relatively longer inner UNITEDSTATES A S )OftlOIlS, the outer portions gathered by the centrifugal1,965,345 7/1934 Jung )utswing of the inner portions when the top leavessaid :nd of the rod to form a spinning point for the top, and 5 FOREIGNPATENTS ateral projections carried by the outer portions and meet-950,236 3/1949 France ng said leading end in such event to maintain saidspin- RICHARD C. PINKHAM Primary Examiner ling point centered.

2. The structure of claim 1, said lateral projections 10 DELBERT LOWEExamine"- aeing transverse studs. R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner.

1. THE COMBINATION WITH A TOP SLIDABLE ALONG A ROD, AND MEANS INDUCINGTHE TOP TO ROTATE WHILE ON THE ROD AND BY MOMENTUM BEYOND ONE ENDTHEREOF; OF COMPANION LEVERS IN OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TOP AND PIVOTEDTRANSVERSELY IN THE LEADING END THEREOF TO PRESENT OUTER PORTIONS WITHPOINTED ENDS AND RELATIVELY LONGER INNER PORTIONS, THE OUTER PORTIONSGATHERED BY THE CENTRIFUGAL OUTSWING OF THE INNER PORTIONS WHEN THE TOPLEAVES SAID END OF THE ROD TO FORM A SPINNING POINT FOR THE TOP, AND